soundoff(13 Responses)

Peggy Dolan

Please make is clear that not ALL teachers have this rider.! The press states that "ALL" Buffalo Teachers have the comestic rider. I have been a BPS teacher for 29 years–I do not have the rider nor does any other teacher I know in the BPS district. Yes, some do but it is a small %. In fact, I think the #'s stated represent 500 "employees"-including firemen/police (there are approx 3400 teachers). Please look at the entire picture vs. just pointing fingers at the teachers. It is a given fact that it will be eliminated- once talks of a new,fair contract come into play. Why waste time on this topic vs. both sides coming to an agreement towards a new contract.- We are still under the 2004 contract, plus frozen step increases for some of the years. Please understand the cost of living expenses greatly increased since 2004 but yet our salaries haven't. ..there needs to be movement from everyone!!

February 22, 2012 at 8:12 pm |

Jeremiah Delach

As someone who has received their life and health insurance license, as well as, a Master of Arts in Adult Education, I am disappointed to see that such a reputable news source is blatantly manipulating a story to provide a false sense of what is actually going on. For those of you who are unaware of how an insurance policy works, this would be considered a rider, or in other words an additional option in which a new employee would opt into or out of that would cost the payer a higher dollar amount for each policy that contains it (usually a summary amount from $25 to $150.) So plastic surgery and any similar services, such as hair removal, will be covered by their insurance policy. Yes, for public teachers this is payed for by tax payers but it does not come even close to the 5.9 Million dollars mentioned in your report, if it does I suggest the district and union search for a new policy provider. So for those of you who are upset about this small portion of the Buffalo teachers insurance policy please learn your facts before you attach the people who work hard and deal with your children everyday when you are working. Little do people see the reality of the teachers' side of this battle for equal compensation for the work they preform. Many teachers, spend hours at home grading papers, or looking over projects their students create, many in smaller districts around the country are unable to support a family of four on the starting salary and must take a second, seasonal or weekend job to make "ends-meat." If you want to truly help our educational system, look to other countries and implement a system similar to Germany, or China. Find a way for young people to start focusing on their career choice as early as the beginning of high school, start an apprenticeship program to teach them everything they need to know, so that they can be as well prepared for their career as those from countries outside of the United States. Also please recognize that 45 mins is hardly enough time to teach anything, let alone a task that requires items to be taken out of a closets and cases, as is the case in Art and Music classes and please get your facts straight and do not rely on ignorance as your only guidance.

February 22, 2012 at 8:02 am |

Leo Barone

Teachers receiving plastic surgery has a health benefit is totally outrageous. And this morning on CNN, there was a teacher from Buffalo actually trying to justify this benefit. Talk about some messed up priorities.

February 22, 2012 at 7:49 am |

Lynn Garcia

This benefit would have been gone in 2004 had the district leaders bothered to negotiate a contract with its teachers. We are working under a contract that was negotiated in2000. The benefit was given well over 20 years ago, long before i joined the district. Less than 7% of the teachers take advantage of this coverage. Many like myself choose plans that do not include this benefit.

February 22, 2012 at 12:49 am |

Kim

Why dont you ask how many teacher's actually have the rider. The majority dont.

February 21, 2012 at 9:12 pm |

John Galema

Although, I don't agree that teachers should get free plastic surgery; They should be appropriately compensated for their profession for which they are under payed. It would be cheaper for the community to pay them what they should be payed and forego the "nip/tuck".

February 21, 2012 at 3:16 pm |

Dan Carey

and that benefit was bargained as an offset against pay raises.

February 21, 2012 at 2:53 pm |

M.J. Kretzler

Having plastic surgery at the expense of the tax payers is ridiculous! Evaluations of teachers are not based on appearance.
I'm happy that I am not paying school taxes in Buffalo.

February 21, 2012 at 1:11 pm |

nancy thayer

District offered plastic surgery years ago instead of smaller classes. Today some classes have more than 40 students.

February 21, 2012 at 12:45 pm |

Mary Kay Kidell

Another example (one that especially appalling) of our priorities in the US. However, there are teachers who go the extra mile to provide their students with a quality education, despite a low salary and no perks (and they often spend their own money to ensure a good experience for the kids). Anderson, please show the positive side as well. We need to know there is hope for our children's future.

February 21, 2012 at 12:23 pm |

Bev. (Janna) Fudala

That was so surprising to learn that teachers and their families get plastic surgery in Buffalo. It doesn't make sense, and that's terrible that it's the tax payers' monies. What are they thinking?

February 21, 2012 at 12:01 pm |

David Wright

This story is represntative of how the teacher unions have become an impediment to education. I was outraged by the Predident of the Teacher Unioin in Buffalo who stated, 'We are prepared to give up the medical benefit of plastic surgery." It never should have been given in the first place. Any tax dollar that went to a teacher's face lift, is a dollar that didin't go in to a reading program or after school care for students. What a farce!

February 21, 2012 at 11:32 am |

Bonnie Brose

Wait a second! Teacher health plans are negotiated with School Boards.....they are co-pay offerings and that is also negotiated.......most have those that are either HMOs or have a network of preferred doctors and those who you must pay more for to consult......It is not a simple taxpayer pay out. The reports are skewed....it is not "free".